Special Needs Trusts

Trustees of special needs trusts are frequently approached by family members of trust beneficiaries who would like to be paid as caregivers for the beneficiaries.  While the Social Security Administration (SSA) currently does not explicitly prohibit payment of family caregivers...

Life insurance provides a unique opportunity for many families to guarantee the financial security of their loved ones with special needs without placing a significant financial strain on other family members.

Once you begin to understand how the gift tax system really works, you may be pleasantly surprised to learn that most people can fund a special needs trust for a person with disabilities with a lot more than $14,000 a...

There are many benefits to having a special needs trust that go far beyond the ability to maintain eligibility for SSI or Medicaid.  For example, although Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) does not have asset or income requirements, this does not mean...

Leaving a child with special needs out of your estate plan is almost always the wrong way to help the child.

I am currently receiving Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and my mother, with the help of her attorney, has set up a special needs trust for me. Do I necessarily need a special needs trust and would an inheritance jeopardize...

Can the parent of a person with special needs, who is also that person's guardian, serve as the trustee of a special needs trust that will hold a settlement?...

Parents giving gifts to children will sometimes provide nothing to the child with special needs while giving substantial amounts to the child’s siblings. This planning strategy can lead to trouble, as a recent Wisconsin case highlights.

The financial planning steps a family takes when their child turns 18 establish the foundation for the child's support and well-being for the rest of the child’s life. Therefore, it is essential that parents take extra care when planning for...